Chapter 169 Planning for the Future
As the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union, Stalin himself hoped that the German army would launch an attack on Kursk on the scheduled date of June 22, because this date had strong political significance.
On June 22, two years ago, the German army launched a full-scale attack on the Soviet Union on this extraordinary day. During that unforgettable period, the Soviet Red Army suffered a complete defeat on the front battlefield and suffered heavy casualties.
In the past two years, Stalin had been trying his best to take revenge on the Germans, bloody revenge, but he had never found a suitable opportunity. Now, in Kursk, this opportunity seemed to have arrived.
However, to the extreme disappointment of everyone including Stalin, the German offensive that was supposed to be launched on June 22 did not come as scheduled. Before that, a German prisoner captured by the Central Front also confirmed that the German offensive had been postponed and the official launch date was changed to July 3.
No one knew why the German offensive plan suddenly changed, and the intelligence agencies failed to provide convincing and accurate intelligence.
Therefore, between June 22 and July 3, there was another debate among the Soviet high-level officials. The proposal to support an active offensive even prevailed for a time, and Yuri's insistence even wavered at a certain point.
However, on June 28, a German fighter plane was shot down by the Soviet army in the area north of Belgorod. The ground search team found the wreckage of the fighter plane and seized a piece of intelligence fragments from it.
Through the restoration of the intelligence fragments by the National Security Committee, the Soviet army finally determined that the German offensive was likely to be officially launched on July 3. Subsequently, Stalin made a decision that the Soviet army would not launch an active offensive for the time being and postpone the battle to July 3.
At this critical moment when the war was about to break out, Yuri, as the Minister of Operations, was instead free. For him, in this war, the work he could be responsible for or the work he should do had been completed. As for the execution details, that was the business of the General Staff and the front command responsible for the specific operations.
Considering that Yuri had never taken a vacation since the outbreak of the war and was currently in a relationship, he was granted a two-week vacation starting from June 24 with Stalin's personal approval.
However, although Yuri was on vacation, he was still thinking about the war in Kursk. After all, this was the first major battle plan he had formulated, and it was also a battle of great significance.
…
Caspian Sea coast, Makhachkala.
As the sun sets, the rippling surface of the Caspian Sea reflects a dark golden glow.
In Villa No. 11 of the Dagestan Government Apartment Building on the east side of the public bathing beach, Yuri was half lying on a beach chair, breathing slightly, watching Angelica raise her head from between his legs with seductive eyes, then he stretched out his arm, took a glass of water from the table next to him and handed it to her.
Angelica shook her head, indicating that it was not necessary. Then she stretched out her long legs, sat on Yuri's body, and said softly, "Who can satisfy you more, me or Gerlyosha?"
Yuri smiled but said nothing. He would not make such a comparison, even in private.
In fact, since she established a relationship with Yuri, no, to be precise, before she established a relationship with Yuri, Angelia knew that Yuri was a very romantic person and that he had special relationships with many women. However, Angelia did not care about these things. When they talked privately, her father also warned her several times not to care about these details. What she needed to do was to win Yuri's heart and at least maintain her marriage with Yuri.
Everyone has feelings, but people with different pursuits in life have different attitudes towards feelings, such as Angelia and her father, Yuri's future father-in-law. Most of them still regard this marriage as political capital rather than emotional sustenance. This is the special way of thinking of a special kind of people.
Angeliya still remembers the surprise her father showed when she called him and told him that she was dating Yuri Arkhipovich. Her father's first reaction was to ask several questions in a row: "Yuri? Yuri Arkhipovich? Yuri Arkhipovich Kulyokov? Yuri Arkhipovich Kulyokov from the General Staff?"
The four consecutive questions revealed the father's surprise and a bit of trepidation.
Even after Anjelia gave a positive answer, the old man still didn't believe it until he called back the next day and asked some detailed questions. When Yuri invited her to Makhachkala for vacation, her father even called her and asked when she could finalize the marriage, and he planned to visit his son-in-law at that time.
Well, this marriage was actually a political marriage. Yuri could not marry Geryosha because their status were not compatible; he could not marry the Kaya sisters, also because their status were not compatible; as for Suya, Yuri had thought about establishing a marriage with her, but the inner resistance was difficult to resolve. Coincidentally, he now didn't know which unit Suya was serving in; as for the women before, that was even more impossible, as their backgrounds were all very problematic.
The reason why he chose Angelica was, on the one hand, because this woman was more compatible with his own status. At least, there was no problem with her background. On the other hand, it was because this woman was very sensible. She would not interfere with his private life. At the same time, she would do her best to please him. He had to admit that Yuri was more selfish when it came to marriage and personal feelings. He thought more about himself.
Angelica didn't mind not getting a response from Yuri. She stood up from Yuri, took the bath blanket on the table next to her, covered Yuri with it, and then took another one and wrapped herself in it casually. Then she said, "Okay, I won't ask these childish questions anymore... What are you going to eat for dinner? I'll ask someone to prepare it."
"Whatever, I'm not very hungry." Yuri sat up, picked up a pack of cigarettes from the table next to him, smoked one, lit it, and then looked at the long stretch of ancient city wall on the hill on the left side of the beach. He said, "Don't leave yet, come and sit over here. I have something to tell you."
Angelica came back as she was told and sat down next to Yuri.
"As for our marriage, I plan to set it after the Battle of Kursk is over," Yuri held Anjelia's hand and said, "By then, the tense atmosphere in Moscow should be relieved, and I will have the energy to prepare these things."
"Of course, now is not a good time to hold a wedding," Angelica nodded with a smile . She was very happy that Yuri took the initiative to bring up this matter.
"Since you have no objection, then it's settled," Yuri continued, "As for the second matter, it's about your job adjustment. I hope you can leave the Moscow Youth League Committee and go down to the grassroots."
"Grassroots?" Angelica blinked, somewhat confused.
"Yes, grassroots," Yuri said, "I think that after the Battle of Kursk is over, the situation in Ukraine will become clear. Perhaps the next step will be the battle to liberate Kiev, and by that time, the work of rebuilding Ukraine will be put on the agenda."
Yuri paused, as if he was thinking, or forming his words.
After about ten seconds, he continued, "Judging from the current attitude of the Kremlin, especially Comrade Stalin, Comrade Khrushchev will most likely serve as the First Secretary of Ukraine again. Considering the damage caused by the war to Ukraine, he will definitely need to adjust some of Ukraine's positions and make new adjustments to personnel issues. I plan to let you take this opportunity to go to Ukraine, which will also be helpful for your future prospects."
There is no doubt that this is a good thing for Anjieliya's future. However, judging from Anjieliya's selfishness, she thinks that Yuri is also trying to get her away from Moscow. In that case, he can continue to live his romantic life.
It is always difficult to guess what women are thinking, and Angelica's thoughts are indeed a bit unfair to Yuri.
Yuri made this arrangement not for his own romantic pleasure in Moscow, but because he wanted to be able to keep track of Khrushchev's situation at any time. However, there were too few people around him who could be of any use, or even none at all. Therefore, he could only turn his attention to his future wife.
"Since you have such an idea, I certainly have no objection," Angela nodded, accepting Yuri's opinion. In fact, she was also happy to go to Ukraine to work. After all, she was very clear about the relationship between Yuri and Khrushchev . From this perspective, when she arrived in Ukraine, at least in the position she held, it would be much more important than her current position as deputy secretary of the Moscow Youth League Committee.
Yuri originally planned to tell his future wife more details, telling her what to do and what to do after arriving in Ukraine, but after a little thought, he gave up this plan. After all, he and Angelica have not yet officially married, and some things cannot be said too directly.
Thinking that he had no available manpower around him, Yuri's mind suddenly emerged with the figure of Demel, oh, and Dmitri who had once helped him. He felt that perhaps he should find time to get together with these people more often.
